In 2010, we investigated anthrax outbreak in Bhutan. A total of 43 domestic animals died, and cutaneous anthrax developed in 9 persons, and 1 died. All affected persons had contact with the carcasses of infected animals. Comprehensive preparedness and response guidelines are needed to increase public awareness of anthrax in Bhutan.

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Medical water therapy (also called medical hydrology) is practiced worldwide both for relaxation and treatment of diseases. While this practice is still thriving in Bhutan, there is a lack of proper documentation and critical study. Therefore, the current study reports on the water therapies practiced in Bhutan and their health benefits. We used four-stage process: (1) a review of literature on balneotherapy (both traditional textbooks and scientific papers); (2) listing and surveying the hot springs, mineral, and holy spring waters; (3) reviewing the health records of the patients maintained at the traditional hospitals and interviewing traditional physicians and patients about health benefits; and (4) reviewing available literature to identify existing clinical trials data to provide evidence for hydrotherapies. We found three main forms of hydrotherapies are practiced in Bhutan, which comprises herbal bath therapy, balneotherapy, and spiritually empowered waters. The most popular hydrotherapies are herbal bath and hot spring therapies. Herbal bath therapy needs traditional physicians’ prescriptions, while hot springs do not require it. Through field surveys, ten different hot springs (tsha-chu) and 17 medicinal water or mineral springs (sman-chu), and 17 holy spring-waters (sgrub-chu) were identified. In general, medical water therapies are used by the Bhutanese people to treat various ailments, including gastritis, neurological disorders, arthritis, dermatological diseases, and rheumatological and musculoskeletal disorders. Even though a lack of scientific evidence makes it difficult to draw concrete conclusions on their traditionally claimed efficacy and safety, there are clinical evidences documented from other countries.

Background. Metal artisans have been using lead and mercury in their settings for centuries. Exposure to these toxic heavy metals causes adverse health effects. We assessed the occupational exposure of metal artisans and their high-risk household contacts at Thimphu, Bhutan. Methods. A cross-sectional study in which 134 metal artisan center employees and 48 high-risk household contacts were tested for blood lead and mercury levels. Sociodemographic data, occupational exposure risk factors, and clinical syndrome related to lead and mercury exposure were further obtained and analyzed using EpiInfo 7.0. Results. The mean age of the metal artisan center employees was 36.02 ± 10.3. The prevalence of elevated blood lead and mercury level was 38.4% and 51.9%, respectively. Significantly higher prevalence of mercury level was observed among the artisans compared to nonartisans (66.97 vs, 16.0). Among three centers, the goldsmith section of the Department of National Properties had the highest (94.1%). Profession as an artisan, mold designing, performing gold amalgamation, working for >8 hours a day, working for >5 years, and working at home were significant risk factors associated with elevated blood mercury level. Significant association was observed between elevated mercury level and complaints of burning or watery eyes (p=0.001), anxiety, nervousness, irritability, severe shyness (p=0.029), muscle aches (p=0.019), and stomach cramps or pain (p=0.009). Conclusion. The prevalence of elevated blood mercury level is concerning among the artisans. Advocacy, proper usage of personal protective equipment, awareness on chemical safety, and hazard associated with lead and mercury usage are needed to minimize the exposure.

Approximately 100 specimens, representing 27 species of Pterophoridae (Plume Moths), were collected from the fauna of Bhutan. The taxonomic status of the species, observed and collected material, and host plants are listed, and a distribution map of each species is presented. The following species are recorded for the first time from Bhutan: Platyptilia farfarellus Zeller, 1867; Platyptilia sedata Meyrick, 1932; Stenoptilia zophodactylus (Duponchel, 1840); Lantanophaga pusillidactylus (Walker, 1864); Xyroptila oenophanes Meyrick, 1908; Sphenarches anisodactylus (Walker, 1864), S. zanclistes (Meyrick, 1905); Oxyptilus causodes Meyrick, 1905; Adaina microdactyla (Hübner, [1813]); and Cosmoclostis pesseuta Meyrick, 1906. One species is described as new: Pterophorus karmawangdii Gielis spec. nov.

The White-bellied Heron Ardea insignis is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to its extremely small and rapidly dwindling population. Bhutan is home to the highest number of White-bellied Heron and the species is distributed patchily across 11 different sites in central and south-west Bhutan. In this note, we present the first evidence of the species in eastern Bhutan, on the Drangmechhu River in Trashi Yangtse district. The finding extends the distribution of the species in Bhutan and recognizes one more potentially critical habitat for immediate conservation attention. As elsewhere, the new site is found to be primarily threatened by hydropower development. The need for conservation initiatives for the species is immediate and highly recommended.

The collection of caterpillar fungus accounts for 50–70% of the household income of thousands of Himalayan communities and has an estimated market value of $5–11 billion across Asia. However, Himalayan collectors are at multiple economic disadvantages compared with collectors on the Tibetan Plateau because their product is not legally recognized. Using a customized hybrid-enrichment probe set and market-grade caterpillar fungus (with samples up to 30 years old) from 94 production zones across Asia, we uncovered clear geography-based signatures of historical dispersal and significant isolation-by-distance among caterpillar fungus hosts. This high-throughput approach can readily distinguish samples from major production zones with definitive geographical resolution, especially for samples from the Himalayan region that form monophyletic clades in our analysis. Based on these results, we propose a two-step procedure to help local communities authenticate their produce and improve this multi-national trade-route without creating opportunities for illegal exports and other forms of economic exploitation. We argue that policymakers and conservation practitioners must encourage the fair trade of caterpillar fungus in addition to sustainable harvesting to support a trans-boundary conservation effort that is much needed for this natural commodity in the Himalayan region.

Twenty-five species of Tortricidae from Bhutan are discussed, 14 of which are recorded for the first time: Acleris perfundana Kuznetsov, 1962, Archips limatus Razowski, 1977, Chirapsina expleta (Meyrick, 1923), Clepsis humana (Meyrick, 1912), Adoxophyes privatana (Walker, 1863), Lumaria probolias (Meyrick, 1907), Meridemis bathymorpha Diakonoff, 1976, Isodemis illiberalis Meyrick, 1918, Lobesia ambigua Diakonoff, 1954, Metendothenia ordospina Jirasuttayaporn & Pinkeaw, 2018, Gibberifera glaciata (Meyrick, 1907), Crocidosema plebejana Zeller, 1847, Lepteucosma charassuncus Razowski, 2006, and Microsarotis bicincta Diakonoff, 1976. Females of Chirapsina expleta and Epiblema charadrias Diakonoff, 1977 are described and illustrated for the first time. Nine new species are described: Eupoecilia jakarana, sp. nov., E. gedui, sp. nov., Lumaria phuntschona, sp. nov., Borneogena trashiyana, sp. nov., Bactra cophinana, sp. nov., Penthostola subnigrantis, sp. nov., M. brunnofasciana, sp. nov., Peridaedala nigrifasciana, sp. nov., and Epiblema albulusana, sp. nov. Adults and their genitalia are illustrated.